Electric furnace for the continuous manufacture of glass.



M. SAUVAGEON.

ELEO'I'BIO FURNACE FOR THE CONTINUOUS MANUFACTURE OF GLASS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 2, 1910.

Patented 0015. 11,1910.

I To all whom it may concern: I

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MARIUS SAUVAGEON, 01 COLOMBES, FRANCE.

ELECTRIC FURNACE FOR CONTINUOUS MANU'IQCTIJRE F GLASS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 11, 1910,

Original application filed August 5.1909, Serial No. 511,875. Divided and this application filed August 2,

Be it known that I, MARIUS SAUvAoEoN, a citizen of the Republic of France, residing at Colombes, Department of the Seine,

France, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Furnaces for the Continuous Manufacture of Glass, of which'the following'is a full, clear, and exact description, I 1 a The invention -forming the subject of my present application (wluch is a division-of my earlier application filed August 5, 1909, Ser- No. 511,37 5) relates to electric furnaces for the continuous manufacture of glass, or vitreous-silicates generally, and its chief object is toprovide an improved furnace which shall be economical in current consumption, simple in constructlon and convenient 1n manipulation and control.

To these and other ends the inventionizon sists in'the novel features of construction and combinations of elements hereimifter described. The preferred form of the invention is illustrated in the annexed drawing, in which v Figure 1 shows the furnace in vertical section, taken longitudinally throughthe melting and refining chamber, on line A B.'

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on line CD.

Fi 3 is a vertical section online EF, at rig t angles to the plane of F i 1 Fig. 4 is a horizontal section of a moification,. in which the working'chamber is in the form of a simple po't int-o which the glass runs from the meltin and refining chamber. Fig. 5 is a vertica section, on line G-H of Fig. 4.

In the furnace illustrated in Figs. 1, 2,v

and 3 a long-narrow, melting and refining chamber l is provided, adapted to contain a mass of molten glass as shown,'and formed" at its ends'with enlargements or pockets 1 2, 3, to, contain the electrodes 4,- 5, immersed connected with a suitable source ofnurrent, not shown;

. and refinin chamber atright'anglesthereto is a latera passage or channel 6, opening into a relatively large working chamber 7,

ing and refining chamber.

goes on routinmnlsly.

Extending from' the melting 1910. Serial No. 575,991.

aperture 9, for the introduction of the glassforming material; I In operating the furnace the two chambers are charged with a mass of molten glass,-and

current is passed-through the glass in the melting and refining chamber between the electrodes 4, 5. ,The resistance of the molten glass to'the flow of the current raises the temperature of the glass and the heat,- thus generated melts the lower portions of a mass of frit 10 introduced through the opening 9.

and floating onthe bath of glass in the melt- The fluid glass thus produced spreads or flows, the bubbles of air or other gasesescaping rapidly, into the Working chamber 7, which isof sufficient size to permitspeedy cooling of the glass down toa suitable working temperature.

As the frit. melts away additional material is charged into the inciting and refining chamber, so that the operation described At the end of the working cln'unber opposite the meltingand refining chamber .is an opening 11, through WhlCl1 the finished glass can be removed as fast as desired.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the only operations in the manufacture which require heat are confined to a single chamber of relatively small size, so that the heat is utilized at-the point of its development, or, conversely, the heat is-developed at the point Where it is needed. In

other words, asingle source of heat, namely,

the flow of current through a single mass of molten glass, is em' loyed for the melting and refining o 'erations. In this way, by

concentrating t e heat at the point of utilization the total amount of heat needed,'and

hence the electric energy consumed, can be largely reduced-and the efliciency of the operation increased. I

. In the furnaceshown inv Figs. and :5 the I melting and refining chamber 1, the elecin the molten glass; which electrodes are trodes i,'5,-'and the passage ti -are similar to the corresponding parts in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, but the working chamber 7, instead" of being roofed over, is a simple pot into which" the glass from the passage 6 flows. Over the outlet passa' e mentioned is, aremovable the passage 6 by which the flow of glass through the latter may be regulated. In using this furnace the dam er 12 is 0 ened wide when it is desired to ischar e the refined glass from the melting an refining chamber.

The operation of either furnace may be started b means of a char e of previously melted g ass, as already escribed, or by employing the electrodes for the production of an electric are, which is then'utilized to melt a suitable charge of cullet.'

It is to be understood that the furnaces herein s ecifically illustrated and described are mere y convenient and effective forms of the invention, which is capable of other embodiments without departure ,from its proper spirit and scope.

I clann:

1. An electric furnace for the "continuous production of glass, comprising in combination, a combined meltin and refinin chamber of lon narrow orm and re atively small capacity, a mass of molten glass in said chamber, constituting a heating resistance and serving to support by flotation a mass of glass-producing material, said chamber being provided with a lateral outlet passage for the delivery of refined glass, electrodes immersed in the molten glass in said chamber at the ends thereof whereb the current flowing between the electro es will be confined to the melting through the said outlet and refining chamber and the resulting heat will be produced only in said chamber, and

a working chamber receivin refined glass from the melting and re ning. chamber through the said outlet passage.

2. n electric furnace forthe continuous production of glass, comprising in combination, a combined meltin and refinin chamber of Ion narrow. arm and re atively. small'capacity, and having a'lateral outlet passage, amass-of molten glassi-n said chamber, constituting a heatlng resistance and serving to supportb flotation a mass of glass-producin material, electrodes iinmersed in the .mofien glass in said chamber at the ends thereof, a working chamber of relatively large capacit in communication with the melting an refining chamber Eassa e and receiving refined glass throng sai passage, and a roof over said chambers, provided with an opening for the introduction of glassproducing material into the melting and refining chamber and an opening for the withdrawal of glass from the I working chamber. I i

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in the presence of two subscribing-witnesses.

- MARIUS' SAUVAGEON. Witnesses:

DoMmI UE GASALONGE, DEAN B. Mason. 

